Police testify Chambersburg man admitted killing Street

July 18, 2008|By DON AINES

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. -- A Chambersburg man charged with criminal homicide in the February shooting death of another man admitted to the killing after he was apprehended, according to preliminary hearing testimony Thursday.

Two witnesses also testified they heard a sound like shots being fired, with one stating he saw Juwan Johnson standing outside the vehicle and the body of 24-year-old Gregory Street inside.

Johnson, 24, also known as Juan R. Johnson, of no fixed address, is also charged with robbery and theft in the incident in the 300 block of East Washington Street on the afternoon of Feb. 1. Magisterial District Judge Gary Carter ordered Johnson bound over on all charges and set his mandatory arraignment for Aug. 27.

"I heard a 'pop, pop, pop.' At the time, I didn't realize what it was," testified Shelby Flythe, Street's girlfriend. Flythe testified she parked outside her house and went in to use the bathroom when she heard the noises.

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Donnelle Hill, who lives across the street from Flythe, testified he walked past Flythe's 2004 Ford Excursion and saw Street in the front passenger seat and a man sitting behind him.

Hill testified he was inside when "I heard three loud pops," looked outside, saw a man he recognized as Johnson standing next to the vehicle and Street slumped over the front seat.

"It looked like there was a hole in his head and smoke coming from it," Hill testified. He also testified he saw blood.

Johnson looked at him and said "What?" Hill testified.

Earlier, Flythe testified she was coming downstairs, heard a door slam and smelled marijuana smoke. Her four children and another relative told her Johnson had been in the house, she testified.

Flythe testified she and Street had picked up Johnson at a bar because he supposedly knew how to track down a relative of her former eye doctor to get a prescription. The three drove to a bar, a mobile home park, a house and a store where Street met with people, she testified.

At the store, where Street bought cigars, he spoke with a woman who wanted marijuana, Flythe testified. Street asked Johnson if he had any "trees" and then Johnson spoke with the woman, Flythe testified.

Defense attorney Greg Ablen asked Flythe if Street sold drugs and what was the purpose of all the brief stops.

"I don't know," she answered to both questions.

"They went to all these places and didn't tell you anything?" Ablen asked.

When she parked outside her house, Flythe testified Street had followed her inside, leaving Johnson in the vehicle. After she heard the popping noises, she testified it was about two minutes before she went outside, saw Johnson speeding away and called 911.

Street's body was found the next morning in Harrisburg, Chambersburg Police Department Detective Jon Greenawalt testified. Johnson remained at large until March 6 when he was picked up in Philadelphia, he testified.

He and Detective Scott Mummert got Johnson the same day, drove back to Chambersburg and conducted a videotaped interview at headquarters, Greenawalt testified.

"He admitted to killing the victim" using Street's revolver, Greenawalt testified. Johnson also said he stole money from Street, he testified.

The gun has not been found, although one recovered in Harrisburg is undergoing testing, Greenawalt testified. Johnson told police he sold the gun in Philadelphia, he testified.

Assistant District Attorney Chris Schellhorn said no determination has been made as to whether the prosecution will seek the death penalty.